Gifts to Lawmakers Surpass Record

Virginia law does not limit the gifts lawmakers can receive, but it requires that items valued at more than $50 be disclosed. Still, legislators acknowledge that many go unreported.

Many gifts are less than $50. Some givers prorate the cost of group events to be less than $50 for each guest.

Legislators often do not keep track of the gifts and simply wait for letters from lobbyists to remind them to report, although that does not ensure it will happen. A Feb. 12 dinner sponsored by PhRMA, the drug industry association, was attended by eight legislators, but only four listed the dinner on their reports, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

If gifts are reported, key details are often missing, such as where and when an event took place.

Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax) said that most of the events occur during the legislative session at the start of the year but that reports are due in December. She said the state should consider making the reporting period at a different time of year.

"I don't think the reporting is as accurate as it should be," said Amundson, who declared $5,821 in gifts last year.

Staff researcher Meg Smith and staff writer Sandhya Somashekhar contributed to this report.